The Basilosaurus cetoides is a prehistoric whale. The name basilosaurus means king of the lizards. The Alabama state fossil is a complete skeleton of this creature. The Zeuglodons average size is about 55 to 75 feet long with a tail as big as 40 feet long. This mammal has fins and yoke-shaped molars. Scientist found that this creature was carnivorous.
This fossil is estimated to be over forty-five million years old. It is from the Eocene period. During this period the temperatures were about 30° C. There was high amounts of precipitation. There was a lot of vegetation.
Preservation
This fossil was preserved in Alabama's shallow seas. Shallow seas are good for preserving fossils.
Who found the fossil/Why is it the state fossil
The fossil was first found in Clarke County in 1833. Then it was later discovered in Choctaw and Washington Counties. A complete skeleton was found on a plantation in southwestern Alabama in 1834. The fossil was discovered by Albert Koch.
The Basilosaurus cetoides is Alabama's state fossil because so many skeletons have been found there. Also the most complete Basilosaurus cetoides skeleton was found in Alabama.
Sources
Alabama Department of Archives and History, Alabama Emblems: Official State Fossil. (n.d.). Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved March 26, 2012, from http://www.archives.alabama.gov/emblems/st_fosil.html
Eocene, t. L., temperature, t. n., variability, w. g., temperatures, s. w., mammals, i. s., vegetation, c. a., et al. (n.d.). The Eocene Epoch. UCMP - University of California Museum of Paleontology. Retrieved March 26, 2012, from http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/tertiary/eocene.php
Alabama's state fossil
- Basilosaurus cetoides (Zeuglodon)
Description of the organism- The Basilosaurus cetoides is a prehistoric whale. The name basilosaurus means king of the lizards. The Alabama state fossil is a complete skeleton of this creature. The Zeuglodons average size is about 55 to 75 feet long with a tail as big as 40 feet long. This mammal has fins and yoke-shaped molars. Scientist found that this creature was carnivorous.
Picture of the fossilfile:localhost/Users/fionabaker/Desktop/Basilosaurus-cetoides.jpg
This is a picture of Basilosaurus cetoides.
http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Lists/fossils_bones.html
file:localhost/Users/fionabaker/Desktop/stfossil.gif
This is a picture of the fossil.
http://www.archives.alabama.gov/images/stfossil.gif
Time existed
- This fossil is estimated to be over forty-five million years old. It is from the Eocene period. During this period the temperatures were about 30° C. There was high amounts of precipitation. There was a lot of vegetation.
Preservation- This fossil was preserved in Alabama's shallow seas. Shallow seas are good for preserving fossils.
Who found the fossil/Why is it the state fossil- The fossil was first found in Clarke County in 1833. Then it was later discovered in Choctaw and Washington Counties. A complete skeleton was found on a plantation in southwestern Alabama in 1834. The fossil was discovered by Albert Koch.
- The Basilosaurus cetoides is Alabama's state fossil because so many skeletons have been found there. Also the most complete Basilosaurus cetoides skeleton was found in Alabama.
Sources